~ RONAN ~
Somehow, I manage to remove Lyra's sweater without tearing the fluffy cotton, pulling it over her head along with an equally soft camisole. I bite back a curse when I see her bra, her hard pink nipples visible through white lace. After I remove the skimpy garment, I take a moment to appreciate the view.Her flawless skin reflects the rays of the moon—pale, silky, and smooth. Her breasts are full and lush, nipples hard and waiting to be touched. Before the night is over, I intend to leave love bites all over her creamy flesh, including one behind her ear and on the curve of her shoulder for the world to see.My woman. My mate.A surge of possessiveness sears through me. The wolf inside me wants to come inside her and mark her with my scent so that every werewolf she encounters knows she’s taken. A good thing, because the man also wants the same thing. I can't wait to feel the clasp of my mate's pussy around my cock, to finally learn just~ CATHERINE ~ I feel Cain's hesitation, but I also know he senses my need for space—especially after invading my mind again. I let that need surge inside me, loud and desperate, and a second later, he shifts his massive frame, releases my wrists, and moves to the side. Without a word, he gestures toward a door on the left. I don’t waste a second. I slide off the mattress and rush to the bathroom, slamming the door shut behind me. My breathing is jagged, uneven. My heart pounds like it’s trying to escape my chest. I lock the door with trembling fingers even though I know it’s pointless. He could break it down without even trying. Still, the sound of the lock clicking gives me something. A sliver of control. Get your head on straight, I tell myself. I move to the sink, twist the f
~ CATHERINE ~ I’m so pissed I can barely breathe. Facing the blinding sun feels preferable to the future I’ll face if I don’t complete my mission—my vow. And the fact that this man—this wolf—is the reason I lost my chance at getting closer to my goal makes me want to bash his head in. And yet… a part of me I’m trying way too damn hard to ignore wants to sit back down. Let him take care of me again. No. I can’t afford that. I can’t afford to feel like that right now. I’ll just have to bide my time and go after West when the opportunity presents itself again. In the grand scheme of things, what’s a few years? Two decades mean nothing to someone like me. I’ve got eternity to keep my vow. What good is immortality without something rewarding to look forward to? my wolf whispers. I snap my eyes shut to dro
~ CATHERINE ~ “You smell so good, Catherine. I'm trying to control my needs, but the more you speak to me with that voice of yours, the more I want to devour you completely.” I shake my head, forcing myself to pull away from the hand that's still resting at my neck. But it’s hard. The sensual web he’s weaving around me? It’s impossible not to feel it. Every word, every touch, tangles around me like threads of heat and hunger, desire, and danger. I never imagined a werewolf would want me in his bed. They hate vampires like me. Hate those who rely on blood too much for their comfort. The very thought of him wanting me is insane. Hell must’ve frozen over when I passed out. It must’ve been the bite. That had to be it. “We can’t,” I murmur. The words stumble out
~ CATHERINE ~ Instead of saying all that, I play it safe. I can’t risk pushing him now—not when I’m this vulnerable. “Nothing,” I sigh, closing my eyes and rubbing my lids with the pads of my fingers. "You can't help me with anything right now." The only thing that can soothe the sting of sunlight is the coolness of the earth—and there’s no way in hell I’m asking a strange werewolf to dig up dirt just so I can slather it on my face like some primal mud mask. A moment later, I hear Cain stand. His footsteps echo across the room, and I flinch at the sharp click of a door opening, then slamming shut. I freeze, listening. Seconds tick by. Then he’s back—feet thudding up the stairs, slower this time. The door opens again, but now it closes gently. I smell him before I hear him—b
~ CATHERINE ~ I grind my hips harder against the thick head of the cock beneath me and groan. I need more. I need him slamming into me. Why isn’t he doing it? A needy sound escapes my throat as I suck deeper. “Yes, love. Suck me. Take all of me. Suck me dry,” the male groans, and my body freezes. His words snap something loose inside as flashes of bloodlust, of death, and of going too far slam into me. Shit. I’m going to kill him if I don’t stop. With everything I have left, I force my wolf and the bloodlust deep, locking them down in the dark corners of my mind. Then I rip my teeth from him and bolt backward, eyes flying open—only to be instantly blinded by sharp white light. It stabs through my vision like fire, and I stumble into a corner, crouching low so I can shield my face with one hand. My sight now useless, I shut my eyes
~ CATHERINE ~ Something incredibly soft brushes the tip of my nose. I shift on the warm, lumpy pillow beneath my head as I try to avoid the annoying contact. When it sweeps across my face a second time, I slide off the pillow and roll away from the disturbance pulling me from sleep. But then a deliciously woodsy scent floods my senses as I land against something warm. The scent is so heady and potent that it burns the back of my throat. My hunger stirs instantly, roaring to life, sharpening the ache gnawing at my belly and worsening the cotton dryness coating my mouth. How long has it been since I fed? I try to remember how long it’s been since I fed, but logic slips through my fingers like smoke. Time doesn’t exist. Only the unbearable ache in my fangs and the intoxicating scent filling my senses do right now. The